Police on Monday arrested a 19-year-old IDF
soldier on suspicion that she attempted to extort money from her ex-boyfriend, whom she claims stole her cell phone.

The soldier is suspected of asking her current partner and another person to attack the 21-year-old ex-boyfriend. An arrest warrant has been issued for the two men, while the female soldier was arrested on suspicion of assault.

The ex-boyfriend, who lives in Haifa's
Neve Sha'anan neighborhood, alerted the police after being assaulted at his home. He said the female soldier and her current boyfriend had been trying to extort him for a number of weeks. He said that some two years ago he dated the soldier for seven months. "She claimed that she was supporting me and broke up with me. A few months ago we got back in touch through Facebook and decided to remain friends, but a few weeks ago she started demanding money from me," the ex-boyfriend said.

According to him, the three suspects threatened him and demanded that he meet them at a certain location to return the cell phone or reimburse them for it. They claimed that he had stolen the phone from the female soldier. "Her boyfriend called and said that I can give it back 'nicely' or that things could end badly," the ex-boyfriend recalled.

On Monday night the soldier, her current boyfriend and another man arrived at the ex-boyfriend's apartment. "They broke into the house, dragged me outside and began punching me, mostly in the face," he said. "They told me I stole her Galaxy 3 cell phone and that I have to return it or pay 3,000 shekels (about $764). They beat me up while she watched."

The victim called the police and a squad car arrived within minutes. The soldier was picked up a short while later, and on Tuesday the Haifa Magistrates' Court extended her remand by two days. The remaining suspects are still at large.

The victim said he fears for his life: "I'm afraid to leave the house. I asked my sister to accompany me to the doctor today. The man who attacked me said that if I would go to the police they would find me. They know where I live."

Attorney Maher Talhami of the Public Defender's Office, who is representing the female soldier, said his client suspects that her ex-boyfriend had stolen her cell phone. "She said she went to his apartment to work things out, but then a scuffle, which she had no part in, broke out," the attorney said.